J A M E S
O B E R I N
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C O N T E N T S 4
B1 - RESE ARCH FIELD
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B2 - CASE STUDY 1
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B3 - CASE STUDY 2
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B4 - TECHNIQUE: DE VELOPMENT
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B5 - TECHNIQUE: PROTOT YPES
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B6 - TECHNIQUE: PROPOSAL
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B7 - REFERENCES
[ 1 ] RESEARCH FIELD. Material Performance // Membranes, Timber grain, Textiles Material performance is concerned with using material qualities to inspire generative computational design. Data can be extracted from a specific material and embedded within algorithms to create informed structures that can easily be fabricated. This mode of design inspires intelligent structures with a minimal amount of materials to be used in their construction, assisting in providing a sustainable future. Case studies will be analyzed within this section to give an understanding of the research field material performance, and provide a solid grounding for our group to explore the LAGI 2014 design brief.
ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010 (fig 4 & 5) exhibit structures that have been created through the study of specific material qualities. Material Equilibria uses parameters such as the ranges and regions of knit denisty, as well as the stiffness of the bounding glass-fibre rods to manipulate the structures overall form. Using real material data in a parametric modelling program can allow for accurate simulation to take place.
The Research Pavilion takes a similar approach, where the timber qualities, such as the bending ability and stiffness in each timber strip has dictated the overall form. Changing parameters such as the size and thickness of each timber Examples such as Sean Ahlquist Material Equilib- strip will change the entire form of the structure. ria research project (fig 1, 2 & 3), and the
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[ 2] CASE STUDY ONE.
Voussoir Cloud // Lightweight Compressive Vaults Voussior Cloud is a case study which explores form finding techniques within computational design. The design is a completely compressive structure that is made up of a series of cells. Computational design software allowed the simulation of this structure to be created. As a structure in perfect tension can inverse into a structure of perfect compression, the design was simulated using a tensioned simulation engine, using anchor points and springs to generate an upward force. This force inversed the effect of gravity, which then allowed a form to be generated and fabricated in complete compression.
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Once the form was created, material data could be embedded within design algorithms, and fabrication can be realised. The form relies on each other panel to provide it’s structural support, along with the support from the adjacent walls. This case study was broken down and experimented with in Grasshopper in a similar manner to how the project would have been completed in reality.
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Scene-Sensor // Iterations
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[ 3] CASE STUDY TWO. 8.
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Deep Surface Prototype // ICD, Prof. A. Menges, S. Ahlquist The Deep Surface Prototype has been chosen because the processes and technology used to investigate tensile surfaces hold potential to accommodate energy generating technologies that could be used for the LAGI brief. The structure is made from a series of hypertoroidal cells, each made from two tensioned surfaces of different stiffness (fig. 9).1 The structure is given complexity when the number of cells is multiplied and anchored from a range of points, providing a complex system of tensioned surfaces. The research project conducted in Stuttgart used computational techniques and material performance to inform the design. The research group used a computational program, similar to Grasshopper to simulate real life material performance. The simulation engine was one that was based
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on particles and springs, which we could replicate using the Kangaroo plug-in for Grasshopper, providing the opportunity to attempt a complete reverse engineering exercise to take place. The project used real data from the materials used so that accurate templates could be generated for fabrication. Panels of the un-tensioned mesh were then unrolled so that the structure could be produced. The following four pages explain the process of the reverse engineering exercise, as we attempted to recreate a replication of the Deep Surface Prototype in Grasshopper. A physical prototype was then fabricated using an identical process to that of the Deep Surface Prototype to gain a further understanding of the behaviours of tensile structures.
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Complete Reverse Engineer // Deep Surface Prototype
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Deep Surface Prototype // Investigating Fabrication Techniques The hyper-toroidal of the Deep Surface Prototype has been simplified to this single celled form in order to be fabricated manually without a large scale cut plotter to manufacture the panels. The prototype was has been simulated in kangaroo, which has informed the shape of each
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panel pre-tensioning. This allowed 2D panels to be cut, and then sewed together to give the prototype its correct form. The unrolled panels are shown below, and the final form of the prototype can be seen in images 15,16 and 17 to the right.
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[ 4] TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT
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Deep Surface Prototype // Iterations of Form Experimentation
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Deep Surface Prototype // Iterations of Form Experimentation To generate electricity for the proposed LAGI installation, piezoelectric transducers will be embedded inside a tensile form. When the wind interacts with the tensile mesh, movement will occur, giving the Piezoelectric transducers an opportunity to harness the kinetic energy and, in turn, will produce electricity. Thus, the selection criteria for the design iterations (shown left) has been critiqued so that the structure will allow for maximum energy generation using this technology. In parallel to the need for the structure to comply with this energy generating technology, the design must comply with the needs of the inhabiting humans on site. This has also affected the selection criteria of the form, taking into account factors such as movement through the site, entry and exit points, external views and views to the site. The design must be intriguing and enjoyable for the occupants in order to maximise the structures design futuring potential. The iterations highlighted left have been chosen due to their accordance to the selection criteria outlined above. The longitudinal structure best fits the need for circulation on site, with two large openings at each end to direct occupants through the site. The longitudinal structure also maximises the potential for wind energy to be focused through the structure, giving the piezoelectric transducers the best opportunity to generate electricity.
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Structural Iterations // The Process of Determining Structure for Tensile Anchor Points The iterations below illustrate some different structural tension the mesh from. The arched beams allow for possibilities to hold up the tensile energy generating the form to stay consistent without moving away from form. The iterations are shown from above, as arching the desired form too much. glulam beams provide the many possible locations to
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[ 5] TECHNIQUE: PROTOTYPES. Prototype One // Parallel Glulam Beams, Square Panelled Tensile Membranes
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Prototype Two // Geodesic Glulam Beams, Square Panelled Tensile Membranes
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Physical Prototypes // Testing Construction Detail
The physical prototypes have been constructed to test different panelling techniques for the tensile surface. The aim was to compare three different sizes of panels to see what would generate the most energy on site. If time had permitted, material data could have informed these prototypes, allowing for an accurate prediction of the energy harnessing potential of each of the forms. Thus, the judgement criteria for these prototypes has been restricted to aesthetic appeal and informed predictions about energy generation.
PROTOTYPE 3: This model is constructed using longitudinal panels that are the length of the entire structure. Even though the model does not accurately represent the tensile membrane, the anchor points are evenly distributed throughout the structure on the over-arching beams. This form would be best to capture the energy from a perpendicular direction.
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PROTOTYPE 4: This model uses one membrane that spans over the entire length of the structure. This would be best to capture wind energy in a longitudinal direction, acting almost as a wind tunnel.
PROTOTYPE 5: Protoype 5 uses a series of thin strip panels that are anchored in a regular pattern along the structure. These panels seem as though they hold the most potential for energy generation as they could fluctuate in the find more than the other two structures. Real data gathering and material properties could have been embedded within algorithms to give a more accurate simulation of the energy generative potential.
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[ 6] TECHNIQUE: PROPOSAL. LAGI Brief // Design Proposal Our design proposal draws from the itera- will be placed in the locations of maximum wind in order to generate maximum tions selected in part B4. energy. The proposal intends to comply with the following two design criteria; 1) to harness In an attempt to interact with the occupants on the site, and to interact with maximum kinetic energy inherent in the wind on site, and 2) to interact with the in- people viewing site from across the river, habitants of Copenhagen both on and off the design will map the energy generated site, maximizing interaction and educating using the flapping tensile surfaces, reachthem on the defuturing situation at hand. ing far into the sky so that the structure can be viewed from a distance. For this to occur, our proposal intends to For the proposal to be relevant, it will hold develop on the ideas generated in this real data from tensile mesh that can be phase of the design (seen right). Now with a solid understanding of construction measured against the predominant wind flows on site, so that an accurate predictechniques used for tensile structures, actual data from materials and technolo- tion of energy generation can be made. gies will be used to inform our structure. The form will use a similar structural layout to the images viewed right, but the form The proposal intends to maximise the energy generation by interacting with real will be dictated by the predominant winds on site. wind flows on site. The tensile surfaces
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[ 7] REFERENCES.
1. Institute for Computational Design, ‘Deep Surface Prototype,’ <http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=6404> [accessed 5 May 2014]
IMAGES: 1. Institute for Computational Design, ‘Material Equilibria,’ <http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=7636> [accessed 5 May 2014] 2. Institute for Computational Design, ‘Material Equilibria,’ <http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=7636> [accessed 5 May 2014] 3. Institute for Computational Design, ‘Material Equilibria,’ <http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=7636> [accessed 5 May 2014] 4. Institute for Computational Design, ‘ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010,’ <http://www.achimmenges.net/?p=4443> [accessed 5 May 2014] 5. Institute for Computational Design, ‘ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010,’ <http://www.achimmenges.net/?p=4443> [accessed 5 May 2014] 6. Iwamottoscott Architecture, ‘Voussoir Cloud,’ <http://www.iwamotoscott.com/VOUSSOIR-CLOUD> [accessed 15 May 2014] 7. Iwamottoscott Architecture, ‘Voussoir Cloud,’ <http://www.iwamotoscott.com/VOUSSOIR-CLOUD> [accessed 15 May 2014] 9. Institute for Computational Design, ‘Deep Surface Prototype,’ <http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=6404> 10. Institute for Computational Design, ‘Deep Surface Prototype,’ <http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=6404>11. http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=6404 12. Institute for Computational Design, ‘Deep Surface Prototype,’ <http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=6404>13. http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=6404 14. Institute for Computational Design, ‘Deep Surface Prototype,’ <http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=6404>
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